What role does this predator-prey interaction play in the overall Antarctic ecosystem dynamics?
Answer
It acts as top-down control, regulating the seal population and potentially culling the less fit individuals.
The predation exerts constant selective pressure on the seal population, favoring the fittest, and contributes to the top-down regulatory control within the Antarctic food web.
#Videos
Watch a Crabeater Seal Evade a Pod of Hungry Orcas | Nat Geo Wild
Killer Whale's Extraordinary Hunting Technique | Frozen Planet II
Related Questions
What is the primary sustenance for the crabeater seal, despite its name?How are the crabeater seal's teeth specialized?What coordinated tactic do orcas frequently employ to capture seals resting on ice floes?What visible physical evidence frequently marks crabeater seals that have survived orca attacks?In terms of population size, how does the crabeater seal compare to other large mammals?What is the main disadvantage for a crabeater seal once it is knocked into the water by a wave?What critical functions does the sea ice serve for the crabeater seal?Why are documented cases of orca-seal predation likely an underrepresentation of actual events?From an energetic standpoint, how is hunting crabeater seals viewed by the orca pod?What role does this predator-prey interaction play in the overall Antarctic ecosystem dynamics?